Tuesday, April 29, 2008
When Shiva slew Tripurasura
One of the 12 jyotirlingas in the country, the temple commemorates Lord Shiva's slaying of demon Tripurasura. A composite of the old and new structures, the temple is built in the Nagara style.
Dedicated to Lord Shiva, the Bhimashankar temple is one of the twelve jyotirlingas in the country. The temple is closely associated with the legend of the slaying of the demon Tripurasura by Shiva. Tripurasura was linked to invincible flying citadel weapons called Tripuras. It was upon the request of the gods that Shiva took abode in the form of Bhima on the crest of the Sahyadri hills to battle the demon. In an associated legend, it is said that the sweat that poured forth from his body after the battle with Tripurasura formed the River Bhimarathi.
The temple is a composite of old and new structures and is built in the Nagara style. A modest yet graceful temple, it dates back to the mid 18th century and is one of the five jyotirlingas in Maharashtra.
To read the full article, click here...
To read the ePaper, visit: http://www.newsindia-times.com
Dedicated to Lord Shiva, the Bhimashankar temple is one of the twelve jyotirlingas in the country. The temple is closely associated with the legend of the slaying of the demon Tripurasura by Shiva. Tripurasura was linked to invincible flying citadel weapons called Tripuras. It was upon the request of the gods that Shiva took abode in the form of Bhima on the crest of the Sahyadri hills to battle the demon. In an associated legend, it is said that the sweat that poured forth from his body after the battle with Tripurasura formed the River Bhimarathi.
The temple is a composite of old and new structures and is built in the Nagara style. A modest yet graceful temple, it dates back to the mid 18th century and is one of the five jyotirlingas in Maharashtra.
To read the full article, click here...
To read the ePaper, visit: http://www.newsindia-times.com
Labels: 12 jyotirlingas, Bhima, Bhimashankar temple, graceful temple, Maharashtra, shiva, slew, Tripuras, Tripurasura
Monday, April 28, 2008
Sangath gets MacArthur Foundation 2008 international prize
Sangath, a non-profit, delivers health care and other services in Goa. It was recognized earlier this month with the prestigious John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation international prize for Creative & Effective Institutions for 2008. It was one of 8 organizations from 6 countries to receive this award.
"Sangath plans to use the prize money ($350,000) entirely to achieve one of its longstanding dreams: to build a center for child development, mental health and public health research," in Porvorim, Goa where its current offices are, the organization says on its website www.sangath.net. Being rooted in the community, Sangath has also urged people to help it find a reasonably priced plot of land to build the center.
Founded in 1996 with just seven staff, it is now considered the largest and most successful health related NGO in Goa, with more than 80 employees providing services, conducting research, and running training programs. Its managing committee includes a lawyer and writer, a psychiatrist, a medical epidemiologist, an educationist, a child rights author, and a leading journalist all directed to the mission of carrying out innovative research to promote health, and to directly provide services, counseling, and models of health care to serve those who live in Goa.
To read the full article, click here...
To read the ePaper, visit: http://www.newsindia-times.com
"Sangath plans to use the prize money ($350,000) entirely to achieve one of its longstanding dreams: to build a center for child development, mental health and public health research," in Porvorim, Goa where its current offices are, the organization says on its website www.sangath.net. Being rooted in the community, Sangath has also urged people to help it find a reasonably priced plot of land to build the center.
Founded in 1996 with just seven staff, it is now considered the largest and most successful health related NGO in Goa, with more than 80 employees providing services, conducting research, and running training programs. Its managing committee includes a lawyer and writer, a psychiatrist, a medical epidemiologist, an educationist, a child rights author, and a leading journalist all directed to the mission of carrying out innovative research to promote health, and to directly provide services, counseling, and models of health care to serve those who live in Goa.
To read the full article, click here...
To read the ePaper, visit: http://www.newsindia-times.com
Labels: awards, delivers, Goa, health care, journalist, MacArthur Foundation 2008 international prize, public health research, Sangath
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's needs, but not every man's greed
This is the 60th anniversary of the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi and the 40th of that of Martin Luther King.. But their spirit was visiting New York last week in many forms, strong enough to give us, puny individuals, heart.
(A list of the Gandhi-Satyagraha-King linked events appears on the below.)
In the face of global warming, a shrinking polar ice-cap and a widening ozone hole over the South Pole, the individual human may feel as lost as the polar bear looking for a way out of a maze ice floes in the disturbing yet beautiful photo by Subhankar Bannerjee.
In ‘The Way We Live Now' section of the New York Times Magazine last Sunday (April 20), Michael Pollan poses the question which we all must have asked ourselves: "Why Bother?"
There is no question that the direction of ‘civilization' is taking is towards changing this once green planet (really more blue than green, as three-fourths of it is ocean) into one-fourth yellow desert and three-quarters fishless sea, enveloped in gray smog.
To read the full article, click here...To read the ePaper, visit: http://www.newsindia-times.com
Labels: 60th anniversary, climate change, Earth, global warming, heart, life, Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Michael Pollan, New York, ozone hole, Satyagraha, shrinking, South pole, survival
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Three win Jit Gill Award for public service from World Bank
Kisan Baburao Hajare, a social activist from India, Karina Constantino-David, for mer Chair of the Civil Service Commission of the Philippines, and Nuhu Ribadu, Chair of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission of Nigeria won the World Bank's 2008 Jit Gill Memorial Award for Outstanding Public Service.
The awards were presented at the Jit Gill Memorial Lecture held at the World Bank April 15, in Washington, as part of the annual conference of the Poverty Reduction and Economic Management (PREM) Network.
The award was set up in 2004, following the death of the Bank staff Jit Gill, a dedicated leader in public sector governance and integrity, the Bank said in its announcement April 15.
Danny Leipziger, World Bank Vice-President for Poverty Reduction and Economic Management (PREM) credited the winners with being able to translate their ideals into innovative public sector reforms.
Hajare is a social activist from India, who created a thriving model village in Ralegan Siddhi, in the impoverished Ahmednagar region of Maharashtra state, and championed the right to information and the fight against corruption.
To read the full article, click here...
To read the ePaper, visit: http://www.newsindia-times.com
The awards were presented at the Jit Gill Memorial Lecture held at the World Bank April 15, in Washington, as part of the annual conference of the Poverty Reduction and Economic Management (PREM) Network.
The award was set up in 2004, following the death of the Bank staff Jit Gill, a dedicated leader in public sector governance and integrity, the Bank said in its announcement April 15.
Danny Leipziger, World Bank Vice-President for Poverty Reduction and Economic Management (PREM) credited the winners with being able to translate their ideals into innovative public sector reforms.
Hajare is a social activist from India, who created a thriving model village in Ralegan Siddhi, in the impoverished Ahmednagar region of Maharashtra state, and championed the right to information and the fight against corruption.
To read the full article, click here...
To read the ePaper, visit: http://www.newsindia-times.com
Labels: awards, corruption, india, Jit Gill Award, Kisan Baburao Hajare, Maharashtra, Poverty Reduction and Economic Management Network, public service, World Bank
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Self-help groups and micro-credit, pathway to poverty eradication
It was a life-long passion verging on obsession for uplifting the disadvantaged and down trodden that drove two siblings to volunteer with an NGO associated with the United Nations. Rajyashree and Shomik Chaudhuri, born into privilege and brought up with the best of education in Kolkata, India, volunteered time and resources to run programs to benefit the underprivileged in the city.
Over the years they saw the results of conflicting interests of other representatives that clogged the flow of resources to the ultimate beneficiaries that retarded development. As a source of a major inspiration was Shomik's selection to represent the United Nations System in India to the World Summit for Social Development at Copenhagen, Denmark in 1995. Being the youngest person in history to represent the U.N. at a World Summit, Shomik's experience and interactions open another dimension to what true development can create.
The siblings formed their own NGO with other like-minded people under section 25 of the Indian Companies Act in 1996, making it a public limited company equivalent but nonprofit in nature. That way, they believed, the organization would be transparent and the service rendered professionally inspired.
The founding members of the Institute also believed that human or moral values were the foundation of any sustainable, holistic development. To create a benchmark in that regard, the Institute organized the 'First International Conference on Values for a Better World' soon after its formation. It had the presence of a galaxy of eminent personalities including Dr. Robert Mueller, former Assistant Secretary General of the United Nations and presently the Chancellor of University of Peace, Costa Rica.
To read the full article, click here...
To read the ePaper, visit: http://www.newsindia-times.com
Over the years they saw the results of conflicting interests of other representatives that clogged the flow of resources to the ultimate beneficiaries that retarded development. As a source of a major inspiration was Shomik's selection to represent the United Nations System in India to the World Summit for Social Development at Copenhagen, Denmark in 1995. Being the youngest person in history to represent the U.N. at a World Summit, Shomik's experience and interactions open another dimension to what true development can create.
The siblings formed their own NGO with other like-minded people under section 25 of the Indian Companies Act in 1996, making it a public limited company equivalent but nonprofit in nature. That way, they believed, the organization would be transparent and the service rendered professionally inspired.
The founding members of the Institute also believed that human or moral values were the foundation of any sustainable, holistic development. To create a benchmark in that regard, the Institute organized the 'First International Conference on Values for a Better World' soon after its formation. It had the presence of a galaxy of eminent personalities including Dr. Robert Mueller, former Assistant Secretary General of the United Nations and presently the Chancellor of University of Peace, Costa Rica.
To read the full article, click here...
To read the ePaper, visit: http://www.newsindia-times.com
Labels: education, groups, india, kolkata, micro-credit; pathway, NGO, people, poverty eradication, United Nations, World Summit
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Both defended handling of missteps, misstatements; directed sharp criticism
Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton both defended their handling of missteps and misstatements on the campaign trail and directed sharp criticisms toward each other - during a potentially pivotal Democratic debate in Philadelphia on April 16 night.
With the race for the Democratic presidential nomination mired in a form of trench warfare that has left party leaders searching for a way to bring it to a conclusion before the party's late summer convention, Clinton, D-N.Y., and Obama, D-Ill., began their first head-to-head encounter in nearly two months focused on political disputes rather than their relatively narrow policy differences.
Obama, who leads in the delegates needed to claim the nomination, fielded tough questions about his relationship with his former pastor, his patriotism and his description of small-town voters as "bitter," the latter a controversy that has engulfed his campaign for much of the past week.
Obama argued repeatedly that voters are smart enough to differentiate petty issues from important economic matters.
"So the problem that we have in our politics, which is fairly typical, is that you take one person's statement, if it's not properly phrased, and you just beat it to death," Obama said. "And that's what Senator Clinton's been doing over the last four days. And I understand that. That's politics. And I expect to have to go through this process.
But I do think it's important to recognize that it's not helping that person who's sitting at the kitchen table who is trying to figure out how to pay the bills at the end of the month."
To read the full article, click here...
To read the ePaper, visit: http://www.newsindia-times.com
With the race for the Democratic presidential nomination mired in a form of trench warfare that has left party leaders searching for a way to bring it to a conclusion before the party's late summer convention, Clinton, D-N.Y., and Obama, D-Ill., began their first head-to-head encounter in nearly two months focused on political disputes rather than their relatively narrow policy differences.
Obama, who leads in the delegates needed to claim the nomination, fielded tough questions about his relationship with his former pastor, his patriotism and his description of small-town voters as "bitter," the latter a controversy that has engulfed his campaign for much of the past week.
Obama argued repeatedly that voters are smart enough to differentiate petty issues from important economic matters.
"So the problem that we have in our politics, which is fairly typical, is that you take one person's statement, if it's not properly phrased, and you just beat it to death," Obama said. "And that's what Senator Clinton's been doing over the last four days. And I understand that. That's politics. And I expect to have to go through this process.
But I do think it's important to recognize that it's not helping that person who's sitting at the kitchen table who is trying to figure out how to pay the bills at the end of the month."
To read the full article, click here...
To read the ePaper, visit: http://www.newsindia-times.com
Labels: Barack Obama, campaign trail, debate, defended, Democratic presidential nomination, Hillary Rodham Clinton, politics, sharp criticism, United states
Monday, April 21, 2008
He taught his reporters, administrative employees the meaning of integrity
As I mentioned in my tribute to Mr. Raju on my television program, his importance to so many of us in the profession of journalism is simply immeasurable.
I was but a young lad, editing a small weekly newspaper in Washington, D.C., working the extra odd job here and there to finance my pursuit of a graduate degree at American University. He spotted something in my work in 1976 and astounded me with an offer to become an editor of India Abroad. I was dum founded because, by my own estimate of myself at the time, I was far too young to be handed responsibility for a newspaper that clearly was heading toward becoming the main medium of our then infant community. But Mr. Raju thought otherwise and asked me to give him a ‘yes' or ‘no' answer as soon as possible.
I fudged, thought about it, then passed up the offer. I ended up becoming the editor a year later of a brand new newspaper, News India.
But by late 1979, I walked into the Park Avenue offices of India Abroad in Manhattan. I asked to meet with Mr. Raju and he obliged. Was his offer to me still good, I asked. At first he gave me that miffed look.
Then he spoke, somewhat noncommittal, "You should have jumped on board the first time I asked you". There were a few minutes of silence as he appeared to size me up.
To read the full article, click here...
To read the ePaper, visit: http://www.newsindia-times.com
I was but a young lad, editing a small weekly newspaper in Washington, D.C., working the extra odd job here and there to finance my pursuit of a graduate degree at American University. He spotted something in my work in 1976 and astounded me with an offer to become an editor of India Abroad. I was dum founded because, by my own estimate of myself at the time, I was far too young to be handed responsibility for a newspaper that clearly was heading toward becoming the main medium of our then infant community. But Mr. Raju thought otherwise and asked me to give him a ‘yes' or ‘no' answer as soon as possible.
I fudged, thought about it, then passed up the offer. I ended up becoming the editor a year later of a brand new newspaper, News India.
But by late 1979, I walked into the Park Avenue offices of India Abroad in Manhattan. I asked to meet with Mr. Raju and he obliged. Was his offer to me still good, I asked. At first he gave me that miffed look.
Then he spoke, somewhat noncommittal, "You should have jumped on board the first time I asked you". There were a few minutes of silence as he appeared to size me up.
To read the full article, click here...
To read the ePaper, visit: http://www.newsindia-times.com
Labels: believed, Gopal Raju, journalism, Manhattan, program, Swedish newspaper, television, Washington
Sunday, April 20, 2008
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 Inter religious 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.
Jewish, Islamic, Buddhist, Jain and Hindu communities were well represented in the 200-strong crowd seated to hear the papal address which encouraged religious leaders to carry the interreligious dialogue to deeper meanings about the origin and life.
Bishop Richard Sklba, chair of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' Committee on Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs, noted that the theme of the meeting was ‘Religions Working for Peace' through the meeting.
To read the full article, click here...
To read the ePaper, visit: http://www.newsindia-times.com
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.
Jewish, Islamic, Buddhist, Jain and Hindu communities were well represented in the 200-strong crowd seated to hear the papal address which encouraged religious leaders to carry the interreligious dialogue to deeper meanings about the origin and life.
Bishop Richard Sklba, chair of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' Committee on Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs, noted that the theme of the meeting was ‘Religions Working for Peace' through the meeting.
To read the full article, click here...
To read the ePaper, visit: http://www.newsindia-times.com
Labels: Bishop Richard Sklba, Interreligious Gathering, Pope Benedict the XVI, Pope John Paul II Cultural Center, religions, South Asians, The Hindu Temple Society of North America, Uma Mysorekar, Washington
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Resolution supporting Tibet introduced by Congressional delegation to India
In the midst of a diplomatic flurry about Speaker Nancy Pelosi's recent meeting in India with Tibetan leader The Dalai Lama, the bipartisan Congressional delegation has gone a step further on April 3rd to introduce a resolution on the House Floor calling on the Chinese government to end its crackdown in Tibet and to enter into a dialogue with the Dalai Lama.
House Resolution 1077 which will be on the floor the week starting 7, according to the Speakers Office, is urging a "negotiated solution that respects the distinctive language, culture, religious identity, and fundamental freedoms of all Tibetans, and for other purposes." It calls on Beijing to end its crackdown, begin a "results based dialogue, without preconditions, directly with His Holiness the Dalai Lama;" allow independent international monitors and journalists free and unfettered access to Tibet, immediately release all Tibetans who are imprisoned for nonviolently expressing opposition to Chinese Government policies in Tibet.
It also demands that the State Department put China among the countries listed as ''the world's most systematic human rights violators'' in the introduction of the 2007 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices and to implement fully the Tibetan Policy Act of 2002, including the clause that Washington should ''seek to establish an office in Lhasa to monitor political, economic and cultural developments in Tibet."
It also says the U.S. should make opening of more Chinese consular offices in the U.S. contingent on having a U.S. office in Lhasa.
March 10th was the 49th anniversary of the Tibetan uprising against Chinese rule when the 14th Dalai Lama, escaped into exile in India.
To read the full article, click here...
To read the ePaper, visit: http://www.newsindia-times.com
House Resolution 1077 which will be on the floor the week starting 7, according to the Speakers Office, is urging a "negotiated solution that respects the distinctive language, culture, religious identity, and fundamental freedoms of all Tibetans, and for other purposes." It calls on Beijing to end its crackdown, begin a "results based dialogue, without preconditions, directly with His Holiness the Dalai Lama;" allow independent international monitors and journalists free and unfettered access to Tibet, immediately release all Tibetans who are imprisoned for nonviolently expressing opposition to Chinese Government policies in Tibet.
It also demands that the State Department put China among the countries listed as ''the world's most systematic human rights violators'' in the introduction of the 2007 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices and to implement fully the Tibetan Policy Act of 2002, including the clause that Washington should ''seek to establish an office in Lhasa to monitor political, economic and cultural developments in Tibet."
It also says the U.S. should make opening of more Chinese consular offices in the U.S. contingent on having a U.S. office in Lhasa.
March 10th was the 49th anniversary of the Tibetan uprising against Chinese rule when the 14th Dalai Lama, escaped into exile in India.
To read the full article, click here...
To read the ePaper, visit: http://www.newsindia-times.com
Labels: 49th anniversary, Chinese rule, Congressional delegation, Dalai Lama, india, Lhasa, Resolution supporting, Tibet, United states
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.newsindia-times.com
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.newsindia-times.com
Labels: Ajitabh Bachchan, Bofors kickback scandal, Gopal Raju, IANS bureau, New York Supreme Court, Swedish newspaper, United states
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Film industry loses $39 billion to piracy annually
The Indian entertainment industry may be worth Rs.500 billion ($ 124 b.), but the movie segment loses Rs.160 billion ($ 39 b.) annually to piracy.
This startling revelation was made by Ron Summers, president of U.S.-India Business Council (USIBC), at the recent Ficci-Frames global convention on media and entertainment in Mumbai.
He said the global revenue share of the Indian film industry was only two percent of the total annual gross income of Hollywood, primarily because piracy usurped a good chunk of the Indian film revenue earned from the domestic and international markets.
"Apart from adopting effective legal measures to preempt piracy, efforts should also be made to extract maximum value proposition from the entertainment content. The best way to do it is by cashing in on the technological advancement witnessed globally in electronics," the USIBC president said.
Noted Bollywood filmmaker Yash Chopra admitted that it would not be possible to root out the external market force of piracy, which has entrenched itself too deeply over the years.
"But we can't afford to resign ourselves to this fact. We must identify measures to mitigate the hold of this force over the market. We must understand the enormous potential of the digital media and try to get value out of it.
"We have to beat pirates in their own game. But to be able to do this, we need the help of the regulatory bodies," Chopra said. According to the secretary in the Information and Broadcasting ministry, Asha Swarup, the only way to tackle piracy was to ensure tight security in the supply chain.
To read the full article, click here..
To read the ePaper, visit: http://www.newsindia-times.com
This startling revelation was made by Ron Summers, president of U.S.-India Business Council (USIBC), at the recent Ficci-Frames global convention on media and entertainment in Mumbai.
He said the global revenue share of the Indian film industry was only two percent of the total annual gross income of Hollywood, primarily because piracy usurped a good chunk of the Indian film revenue earned from the domestic and international markets.
"Apart from adopting effective legal measures to preempt piracy, efforts should also be made to extract maximum value proposition from the entertainment content. The best way to do it is by cashing in on the technological advancement witnessed globally in electronics," the USIBC president said.
Noted Bollywood filmmaker Yash Chopra admitted that it would not be possible to root out the external market force of piracy, which has entrenched itself too deeply over the years.
"But we can't afford to resign ourselves to this fact. We must identify measures to mitigate the hold of this force over the market. We must understand the enormous potential of the digital media and try to get value out of it.
"We have to beat pirates in their own game. But to be able to do this, we need the help of the regulatory bodies," Chopra said. According to the secretary in the Information and Broadcasting ministry, Asha Swarup, the only way to tackle piracy was to ensure tight security in the supply chain.
To read the full article, click here..
To read the ePaper, visit: http://www.newsindia-times.com
Labels: annual income, Bollywood, filmmaker Yash Chopra, Hollywood, Indian entertainment industry, Indian film industry, piracy, USIBC president
Sony Entertainment Television Asia to present South Asian Excellence Awards
Sony Entertainment Television Asia (SET Asia) announced that the First Annual South Asian Excellence Awards (SAEA), conceived and hosted by Sony, will be awarded to South Asian achievers under different categories at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in Manhattan on May 10. The winners' names will be revealed at the event. The announcement was made at a press conference by Rajan Singh, Executive Vice President, International Business, Sony Pictures Europe House, at the Sony Club in Manhattan on April 3.
SET Asia viewers, who were informed on the awards earlier this year, nominated candidates of their choice under various categories who were U.S. residents for at least 5 years. The categories include entertainment, science, technology, social service, performing and visual arts, business, literature and sports. Besides the categories, special awards will also be given by SET Asia - awards for the South Asian Personality of the Year, a Lifetime Achievement and a young achiever for demonstrating outstanding excellence.
An independent judging panel will select the winner from three nominees under each cate gory and also the special awards nominated by the viewers. Till press time Sony had an embargo on the names of the nominees.
To read the full article, click here...
To read the ePaper, visit: http://www.newsindia-times.com
SET Asia viewers, who were informed on the awards earlier this year, nominated candidates of their choice under various categories who were U.S. residents for at least 5 years. The categories include entertainment, science, technology, social service, performing and visual arts, business, literature and sports. Besides the categories, special awards will also be given by SET Asia - awards for the South Asian Personality of the Year, a Lifetime Achievement and a young achiever for demonstrating outstanding excellence.
An independent judging panel will select the winner from three nominees under each cate gory and also the special awards nominated by the viewers. Till press time Sony had an embargo on the names of the nominees.
To read the full article, click here...
To read the ePaper, visit: http://www.newsindia-times.com
Labels: Manhattan, Sony, Sony Entertainment Television Asia, South Asian Excellence Awards, sponsors, viewers, Wal-Mart Stores, Waldorf Astoria Hotel, young achiever
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Pioneering publisher Gopal Raju is no more
Gopal Raju, who was a bridge between India and the United States in the fields of media, politics and philanthropy for over half a century, died in New York late on April 9 after a brief illness. He was 80.
Raju's death was announced by his long-time colleague and friend Veena Merchant. He died after complications from a week long bout of jaundice.
An institution-builder, he founded India Abroad newspaper, the Indo-Asian News Service (IANS), the Indian American Foundation (IAF) and the Indian American Center for Political Awareness (IACPA). At the time of his death, he was the publisher of the weekly newspapers News India-Times, Desi Talk and Gujarat Times.
A pioneering advocate of the two-million Indian diaspora in the United States, Raju saw India Abroad as an information bridge between the Indian-American community and their native country.
Later, he founded IACPA in 1993, which extended this community involvement to US politics - from Washington to state and local levels. As part of the Center's eight-week Washington Leadership Program, he placed about 200 Indian American interns with Congressional and Senate lawmakers in Washington, D.C., introducing them to the US political process.
In 1995 IACPA introduced the Washington Leadership Program (WLP) to introduce Indian American college students to the political process through Congressional internships. The program enabled them to get a firsthand look at how the political process works. Each year WLP selects college students to participate in an eight-week summer program, which includes the first and the last week of orientation and evaluation specially designed by the program.
In 2003, the WLP expanded its scope by sending six interns to visit India for a week, to understand the political process of the world's largest democracy, interact with policy-makers and think-tanks.
To read the full article, click here...
To read the ePaper, visit: http://www.newsindia-times.com
Raju's death was announced by his long-time colleague and friend Veena Merchant. He died after complications from a week long bout of jaundice.
An institution-builder, he founded India Abroad newspaper, the Indo-Asian News Service (IANS), the Indian American Foundation (IAF) and the Indian American Center for Political Awareness (IACPA). At the time of his death, he was the publisher of the weekly newspapers News India-Times, Desi Talk and Gujarat Times.
A pioneering advocate of the two-million Indian diaspora in the United States, Raju saw India Abroad as an information bridge between the Indian-American community and their native country.
Later, he founded IACPA in 1993, which extended this community involvement to US politics - from Washington to state and local levels. As part of the Center's eight-week Washington Leadership Program, he placed about 200 Indian American interns with Congressional and Senate lawmakers in Washington, D.C., introducing them to the US political process.
In 1995 IACPA introduced the Washington Leadership Program (WLP) to introduce Indian American college students to the political process through Congressional internships. The program enabled them to get a firsthand look at how the political process works. Each year WLP selects college students to participate in an eight-week summer program, which includes the first and the last week of orientation and evaluation specially designed by the program.
In 2003, the WLP expanded its scope by sending six interns to visit India for a week, to understand the political process of the world's largest democracy, interact with policy-makers and think-tanks.
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Labels: Gopal Raju, he Indian American Foundation, Indian American Center for Political Awarenes, Indo-Asian News Service, Pioneering publisher, Raju's death, Washington Leadership Program
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Mumbai tops global rentals - joins New York and Tokyo
Nearly 40 million square feet of office space was added in India last year, with the Bandra-Kurla Complex in Mumbai commanding the highest rentals even as the metro joined New York and Tokyo as the most expensive realty markets in the world, says a new study.
"The year 2007 will be remembered for the increased interest in understanding the Tier II and Tier III markets of India," said Anshuman Magazine, chief of South Asia for the Los Angeles-based realty consultancy CB Richard Ellis.
"Occupiers have been looking closely at these non-metro markets that offer lower costs and possibly improved employee retention, compared to the mature markets," Magazine said, while releasing the story on India's real estate industry.
"Such was the frenzy to release supply to a 'hot' market that some micro-markets like the IT corridors in Chennai saw its office supply in 2007 multiply some six times from the new supply in 2006."
The study said thanks to the addition of 39 million square ft in new office space in 2007, the overall commercial office stock in the country increased to 53 million square feet, taking the total stock to 190 million square feet.
The developers ramped up their supplies mas sively because of spiraling rentals that also lured private equity funds into the realty industry, said the study by the consultancy that has some 300 offices worldwide.
"The rental trend has continuously risen this year, with significant rental escalations in markets like Gurgaon in the National Capital Territory and Outer Ring Road in Bangalore," it said.
To read the full article, click here...
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"The year 2007 will be remembered for the increased interest in understanding the Tier II and Tier III markets of India," said Anshuman Magazine, chief of South Asia for the Los Angeles-based realty consultancy CB Richard Ellis.
"Occupiers have been looking closely at these non-metro markets that offer lower costs and possibly improved employee retention, compared to the mature markets," Magazine said, while releasing the story on India's real estate industry.
"Such was the frenzy to release supply to a 'hot' market that some micro-markets like the IT corridors in Chennai saw its office supply in 2007 multiply some six times from the new supply in 2006."
The study said thanks to the addition of 39 million square ft in new office space in 2007, the overall commercial office stock in the country increased to 53 million square feet, taking the total stock to 190 million square feet.
The developers ramped up their supplies mas sively because of spiraling rentals that also lured private equity funds into the realty industry, said the study by the consultancy that has some 300 offices worldwide.
"The rental trend has continuously risen this year, with significant rental escalations in markets like Gurgaon in the National Capital Territory and Outer Ring Road in Bangalore," it said.
To read the full article, click here...
To read the ePaper, visit: http://www.newsindia-times.com
Labels: Bandra-Kurla Complex, expensive office markets, global rentals, highest rentals, india, MMumbai tops, New York, Tier II and Tier III markets of India, Tokyo
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Two Indo-Canadians made junior ministers in Alberta legislature
Calgary-Meadowlark, in his Raj are two of manmeet Singh Bhullar, 28, elected from Calgary-Montrose, and Sherman from 40s, five-Indo Canadian members of the Alberta Legislative Assembly, elected March 3, who have been given sub-cabinet-level positions for the first time in the province's history.
However, Alberta has the distinction of sending at least two Indo-Canadian Members of Parliament to the Hill in Ottawa for more than a decade, who now occupy positions of Parliamentary Secretaries - Deepak Obhrai and Rahim Jaffer.
Bhullar told News India-Times there are many firsts in his appointment as Parliamentary Assistant for Advanced Education and Technology.
"It is a very historic time at a few different levels – one, Premier Ed Stelmach appointed me to run from this riding; two, I am the youngest person in the Alberta legislature; three, I am the second youngest in the country in provincial legislatures; and four, I am the youngest to hold a quasi-ministerial responsibility," he told News India-Times.
Sherman, a physician, was sworn in as Parliamentary Assistant for Health and Wellness.
Born and brought up in Calgary-Montrose, Bhullar was a second-year law student when he ran for the election. He has a Bachelor's degree in Sociology from Athabasca University. Prior to being elected, he was an advisor to Jim Prentice, and worked in the Prime Minister's office in Ottawa on issues affecting Alberta and the Territories.
"I've been active in politics for many years and at a very young age I was exposed to politics at very senior capacities in national campaigns," he said. Bhullar was National Outreach Chair, Western Canada organizer, Alberta Outreach Chair and Alberta Co-Chair. "I think I bring with me the potential to engage people that are not typically engaged – certain age groups, ethnic groups, and people of different socio-economic backgrounds. And I bring ideas on how to engage them."
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However, Alberta has the distinction of sending at least two Indo-Canadian Members of Parliament to the Hill in Ottawa for more than a decade, who now occupy positions of Parliamentary Secretaries - Deepak Obhrai and Rahim Jaffer.
Bhullar told News India-Times there are many firsts in his appointment as Parliamentary Assistant for Advanced Education and Technology.
"It is a very historic time at a few different levels – one, Premier Ed Stelmach appointed me to run from this riding; two, I am the youngest person in the Alberta legislature; three, I am the second youngest in the country in provincial legislatures; and four, I am the youngest to hold a quasi-ministerial responsibility," he told News India-Times.
Sherman, a physician, was sworn in as Parliamentary Assistant for Health and Wellness.
Born and brought up in Calgary-Montrose, Bhullar was a second-year law student when he ran for the election. He has a Bachelor's degree in Sociology from Athabasca University. Prior to being elected, he was an advisor to Jim Prentice, and worked in the Prime Minister's office in Ottawa on issues affecting Alberta and the Territories.
"I've been active in politics for many years and at a very young age I was exposed to politics at very senior capacities in national campaigns," he said. Bhullar was National Outreach Chair, Western Canada organizer, Alberta Outreach Chair and Alberta Co-Chair. "I think I bring with me the potential to engage people that are not typically engaged – certain age groups, ethnic groups, and people of different socio-economic backgrounds. And I bring ideas on how to engage them."
To read the full article, click here...
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Labels: Alberta legislature, Calgary-Montrose, Canada, junior ministers, manmeet Singh Bhullar, Raj Sherman, Two-Indo Canadian
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Moneylenders are main recourse for Indian farmers to escape cycle of debt
Almost every farmer across India's arid cotton-bearing central plateau is a hostage, in one way or another, to a profitable mega-business of illegal money lending.
Families have lost land, farmers have been asked to prostitute their wives to pay off debts and, when all else has failed, borrowers have killed themselves to end their misery.
An inescapable cycle of debt is fuelling one of the worst agrarian crises facing India, a crisis that has seen some 150,000 farmers commit suicide since 1997.
Yet the public image of menacing debt collectors does not entirely reflect the views of the region's three million farmers. The rapacious moneylender, who plugs the gaps in rural financial services, is also the man they can turn to in times of need.
Last month, the government announced a $15-billion loan waiver for small farmers borrowing from banks, but experts say the efficacy of the scheme is badly diluted because it leaves out those borrowing from moneylenders.
"Moneylenders are now an inextricable part of the rural economy," said S. Parasuraman of the Tata Institute of Social Sciences. "So much so the bank has become secondary, or even redundant, for a small farmer.
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Families have lost land, farmers have been asked to prostitute their wives to pay off debts and, when all else has failed, borrowers have killed themselves to end their misery.
An inescapable cycle of debt is fuelling one of the worst agrarian crises facing India, a crisis that has seen some 150,000 farmers commit suicide since 1997.
Yet the public image of menacing debt collectors does not entirely reflect the views of the region's three million farmers. The rapacious moneylender, who plugs the gaps in rural financial services, is also the man they can turn to in times of need.
Last month, the government announced a $15-billion loan waiver for small farmers borrowing from banks, but experts say the efficacy of the scheme is badly diluted because it leaves out those borrowing from moneylenders.
"Moneylenders are now an inextricable part of the rural economy," said S. Parasuraman of the Tata Institute of Social Sciences. "So much so the bank has become secondary, or even redundant, for a small farmer.
To read the full article, click here...
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Labels: crises facing India, farmers commit suicide, globalization, high-cost seeds and pesticides, illegal money lending, Indian farmers, Moneylenders
Monday, April 7, 2008
Winning the fight against AIDS
The past decade has seen remarkable progress in the fight against AIDS with many new treatments discovered and more in development.Some people in the public health community now say that AIDS could be reclassified as a chronic disease that is manageable like diabetes or hypertension. Until recently, such thoughts were unimaginable.
Despite this progress in treatment, 2.5 million people will be infected with HIV this year and more than two million will die of AIDS. As long as weak infrastructure and disastrous political interference plague poor countries where the disease hits hardest, AIDS will persist. Frustrated global activists are now demanding that developing countries be allowed to revoke the patents on AIDS medications to make them more available.Already, the pharmaceutical industry funds philanthropic many programs to make medicines available in these countries at little or no cost.
But activists want to impose "compulsory licensing," a practice endorsed by the World Trade Organization, to allow governments to break patents during public health emergencies to produce copies of branded drugs. This could have deadly consequences.The immediate danger would come from the proliferation of lowquality counterfeits.
Most local industries in sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia lack the technological and regulatory incentives to produce high-quality pharmaceuticals. If an AIDS patient takes medicine that isn't strong enough to kill the disease, the virus becomes drug resistant. Exposing HIV/AIDS patients to substandard products worsens the epidemic and increases treatment costs. In addition to this awful death toll, patent violations could lead to a decline in the number of new vaccines in the future, since drug companies would have no assurance of a return on their investments. On average, it takes more than ten years and $800 million to bring a new drug to market. No company could afford that cost if international patent theft made it impossible to recoup the investment.
To read the full article, click here...
To read the ePaper, visit: http://www.newsindia-times.com
Despite this progress in treatment, 2.5 million people will be infected with HIV this year and more than two million will die of AIDS. As long as weak infrastructure and disastrous political interference plague poor countries where the disease hits hardest, AIDS will persist. Frustrated global activists are now demanding that developing countries be allowed to revoke the patents on AIDS medications to make them more available.Already, the pharmaceutical industry funds philanthropic many programs to make medicines available in these countries at little or no cost.
But activists want to impose "compulsory licensing," a practice endorsed by the World Trade Organization, to allow governments to break patents during public health emergencies to produce copies of branded drugs. This could have deadly consequences.The immediate danger would come from the proliferation of lowquality counterfeits.
Most local industries in sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia lack the technological and regulatory incentives to produce high-quality pharmaceuticals. If an AIDS patient takes medicine that isn't strong enough to kill the disease, the virus becomes drug resistant. Exposing HIV/AIDS patients to substandard products worsens the epidemic and increases treatment costs. In addition to this awful death toll, patent violations could lead to a decline in the number of new vaccines in the future, since drug companies would have no assurance of a return on their investments. On average, it takes more than ten years and $800 million to bring a new drug to market. No company could afford that cost if international patent theft made it impossible to recoup the investment.
To read the full article, click here...
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Labels: AIDS, diabetes, hypertension, new treatments discovered, public health community
Friday, April 4, 2008
Prize Shukla gets International Meteorological Society Prize
Professor Jagadish Shukla, Chair of the Climate Dynamics Department at George Mason University, Virginia, and President of the Institute of Global Environment and Society, was formally awarded the International Meteorological Society Prize on March 28.
An "internationally acclaimed researcher, educator, and institution builder, whose work has led to substantially greater understanding of the predictability of climate," Shukla received the Prize at a special ceremony at the National Academy of Sciences. The announcement regarding his award was made earlier this year.
In January this year, the Governor of Virginia Time Kaine, appointed Shukla to his Commission on Climate Change. At that time, Shukla told News India-Times he had been awarded the prestigious IMO Prize awarded by the World Meteorological Society.
His scientific contributions include research on the Asian monsoon, deforestation, desertification, and predictability of weather and climate. His research has established the existence of predictability in the midst of chaos and provided a scientific basis for short-term climate prediction.
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An "internationally acclaimed researcher, educator, and institution builder, whose work has led to substantially greater understanding of the predictability of climate," Shukla received the Prize at a special ceremony at the National Academy of Sciences. The announcement regarding his award was made earlier this year.
In January this year, the Governor of Virginia Time Kaine, appointed Shukla to his Commission on Climate Change. At that time, Shukla told News India-Times he had been awarded the prestigious IMO Prize awarded by the World Meteorological Society.
His scientific contributions include research on the Asian monsoon, deforestation, desertification, and predictability of weather and climate. His research has established the existence of predictability in the midst of chaos and provided a scientific basis for short-term climate prediction.
To read the full article, click here...
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Labels: Asian monsoon, awards, George Mason University, international Meteorological Society Prize, Professor Jagadish Shukla, the Institute of Global Environment and Society, Virginia
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Bhutan votes for stability but rejects King's uncle
The people of the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan shocked even themselves on March 24, voting for stability and experience in their first ever parliamentary polls but overwhelmingly rejecting a party led by the king's uncle.
This was not a vote against the much loved king of Bhutan or a century of royal rule -- many people had said they were reluctant to embrace democracy, and the winner of the elections, Jigmi Thinley, was himself a staunch royalist.
But the scale of his victory, winning 44 of the 47 seats on offer according to provisional results announced by the election commission, sent subtle messages which will reverberate around this deeply traditional and conservative land.
"It is truly amazing," said Palden Tshering, spokesman for Thinley's Druk Phuensum Tshogpa (DPT). "The people really have made the decision."
The present king's uncle Sangay Ngedup even lost in his own constituency. If the king had to stand aside, the people of Bhutan seem to be saying, they are not sure they want his many relatives by marriage to take over.
"They have given the government to the public now," said one voter who declined to be named, in a country still not used to criticism of the elite or political discourse.
To read the full article, click here...
To read the ePaper, visit: http://www.newsindia-times.com
This was not a vote against the much loved king of Bhutan or a century of royal rule -- many people had said they were reluctant to embrace democracy, and the winner of the elections, Jigmi Thinley, was himself a staunch royalist.
But the scale of his victory, winning 44 of the 47 seats on offer according to provisional results announced by the election commission, sent subtle messages which will reverberate around this deeply traditional and conservative land.
"It is truly amazing," said Palden Tshering, spokesman for Thinley's Druk Phuensum Tshogpa (DPT). "The people really have made the decision."
The present king's uncle Sangay Ngedup even lost in his own constituency. If the king had to stand aside, the people of Bhutan seem to be saying, they are not sure they want his many relatives by marriage to take over.
"They have given the government to the public now," said one voter who declined to be named, in a country still not used to criticism of the elite or political discourse.
To read the full article, click here...
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Labels: Bhutan, Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan, Jigmi Thinley, King's uncle, royal rule, stability, votes
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Washington flexible on Mukherjee's call for more time on nuclear deal
Washington will continue to follow developments on the U.S.-India civil nuclear cooperation deal bogged down in domestic politics, and may relax the pressure to expedite it, going by Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee's two-day visit here starting March 23rd. Secretary Rice has accepted an invitation to visit India in the near future.
"… we will continue to work on that agreement. The Indians are now in a process of working with the IAEA and we'll follow that progress, but we will have further discussions on that matter later," Rice said at a joint press briefing following her meeting with Mukherjee on March 23.
Mukherjee also met with President Bush on March 24th night for a half hour, and said he "had the opportunity to discuss thoroughly," regional and international issues.
During his visit, Mukherjee squarely put the blame on Opposition Left parties in India for the stalled nuclear deal, calling their stance "ideological" but indicated the Manmohan Singh government was negotiating full steam.
Pointing out that of the four stages required for the nuclear deal to become a reality, the 123 Agreement between India and the U.S.A. had been initialed. The second stage, to have the approval of the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on an India-specific safeguard agreement, the agreement was yet to be initialed and approved by the Board of Governors. "In that stage, we are currently engaged with various political parties who are supporters of our coalition government in India. And the discussion is still going on."
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"… we will continue to work on that agreement. The Indians are now in a process of working with the IAEA and we'll follow that progress, but we will have further discussions on that matter later," Rice said at a joint press briefing following her meeting with Mukherjee on March 23.
Mukherjee also met with President Bush on March 24th night for a half hour, and said he "had the opportunity to discuss thoroughly," regional and international issues.
During his visit, Mukherjee squarely put the blame on Opposition Left parties in India for the stalled nuclear deal, calling their stance "ideological" but indicated the Manmohan Singh government was negotiating full steam.
Pointing out that of the four stages required for the nuclear deal to become a reality, the 123 Agreement between India and the U.S.A. had been initialed. The second stage, to have the approval of the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on an India-specific safeguard agreement, the agreement was yet to be initialed and approved by the Board of Governors. "In that stage, we are currently engaged with various political parties who are supporters of our coalition government in India. And the discussion is still going on."
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Labels: india, Indian Foreign Minister, International Atomic Energy Agency, nuclear deal, Pranab Mukherjee, United states, Washington
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Siddhi Vinayak Temple -Mumbai's richest temple Trust
Mumbai's Shree Siddhi Vinayak Temple at Prabhadevi is the reigning deity of Mum baikars. A 200-year-old structure, the temple was first consecrated on November 19, 1801 with a built-up area of 3.60 m x 3.60 m sq.
The old temple had an ancient architectural style, consisting of a hall, a sanctum sanctorum, some free open space, the temple's administrative office to the right and a water tank in the front.
The Siddhi Vinayak temple as it stands today is an architecturally transformed shrine.
The first floor of the temple is a mezzanine floor mainly used for pujas and darshan. The second floor houses the kitchen used to make the ‘Shree Maha Naivedya' (offering), and a restroom.
The Naivedya prepared in the kitchen is carried to the sanctum sanctorum by an elevator. This floor also has the administrative offices of the supervisor and an assistant supervisor.
The third floor houses the temple's central office. The fourth floor has the temple library with an exhaustive collection of over 8,000 books.
The fifth floor is mainly used for food preparations during festivals and fire offerings.
The temple's garbhagriha (sanctum sanctorum) is an octagonal enclosure, 10 feet wide, and comprises a silver-plated makhar. Makhar is a smaller structure within the garbhagriha housing the idol of the Lord. The dome inside the garbhagriha is gold-plated and has been designed to enhance the beauty of the idol. It is lighted with an exquisite chandelier.
To read the full article, click here...
To read the ePaper, visit: http://www.newsindia-times.com
The old temple had an ancient architectural style, consisting of a hall, a sanctum sanctorum, some free open space, the temple's administrative office to the right and a water tank in the front.
The Siddhi Vinayak temple as it stands today is an architecturally transformed shrine.
The first floor of the temple is a mezzanine floor mainly used for pujas and darshan. The second floor houses the kitchen used to make the ‘Shree Maha Naivedya' (offering), and a restroom.
The Naivedya prepared in the kitchen is carried to the sanctum sanctorum by an elevator. This floor also has the administrative offices of the supervisor and an assistant supervisor.
The third floor houses the temple's central office. The fourth floor has the temple library with an exhaustive collection of over 8,000 books.
The fifth floor is mainly used for food preparations during festivals and fire offerings.
The temple's garbhagriha (sanctum sanctorum) is an octagonal enclosure, 10 feet wide, and comprises a silver-plated makhar. Makhar is a smaller structure within the garbhagriha housing the idol of the Lord. The dome inside the garbhagriha is gold-plated and has been designed to enhance the beauty of the idol. It is lighted with an exquisite chandelier.
To read the full article, click here...
To read the ePaper, visit: http://www.newsindia-times.com
Labels: ashtavatar, devotees, festivals, garbhagriha, Mumbai's richest temple Trust, old temple, Prabhadevi, Shree Maha Naivedya, Siddhi Vinayak Temple
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